Filling spout for puncturing containers



B. CARLSON ETAL Filed Feb. 7, 1962 FILLING SPOUT FOR PUNCTiJRING CONTAINERS Dec. 31, 1963 l l il 4 Trek/lays Bwzou CARLSON BY GER-HARD KUHN nfi/ENTOR United States Patent Circle Les The present invention relates generally to containers for liquids such as fuel and oil storage tanks and the like and more particularly to an improved filling spout for such containers having a receptacle opening means provided therein.

The present invention, while it has a general application, will be described in combination with a fuel tank for an internal combustion engine and in particular a fuel tank for a two cycle outboard motor.

In a two cycle internal combustion engine such as in an outboard motor, a lubricating oil is normally mixed with the fuel to provide the required lubrication for motor bearings and pistons. According to prior practice, this lubricating oil is, in most instances, first mixed with a small amount of fuel to form a premix. The premix is then poured into a fuel container or tank and an addi tional amount of fuel is then introduced to bring the level up to the top of the tank.

The lubricating oil is most often supplied in metal cans which must be punctured in order to remove the oil from them. It has been the common practice to puncture these cans with a pouring spout which has connected to it a puncturing member.

Such pouring spouts, however, have several disadvantages. First, they can become easily misplaced or lost. Secondly, boat operators are occasionally called upon to add additional oil to the fuel tank when the boat is out on the water only to find that the can puncturing and dispensing spout has been left behind at the dock. Moreover, lubricating oil in present use often contains one or more toxic or irritating substances which can come in contact with the hands when a conventional opening device is used.

Prior can puncturing and pouring devices have additional shortcomings. They are often difficult or awkward to mount on a can since considerable force is required to thrust the puncturing portion through the end of the can. It is therefore common practice to rest the can in an upright position on a firm support while the pouring device is thrust into the upper end thereof. After the contents of the can have been emptied into a storage container, the can and pouring device are removed from the storage container as a unit. The pouring device itself must then be removed from the can and stored for further use.

In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, it is thus one object of the present invention to provide an improved container filling spout with a means for producing a drain opening in a receptacle introduced into said spout.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved liquid container filling spout with a puncturing member mounted therein for opening a receptacle and a means for limiting the downward movement of the receptacle into the spout whereby the puncturing means is extended a predetermined distance into said receptacle.

Zilfififl? Fatented Dec. 31, 1963 'ice It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved container filling spout including a can piercing member and a means for reliably guiding the can into engagement with the piercing member when the can is thrust into the spout.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an improved liquid storage container filling spout of the character described which is rugged in construction, relatively low in cost and will reliably form a drain opening in a receptacle thrust into said spout.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved liquid storage container spout with a sharply pointed puncturing member rigidly secured therein to provide an opening in a receptacle wherein the pointed end of the puncturing member is recessed within the spout to prevent accidental manual contact therewith.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a can puncturing and emptying device which cannot become lost or mislaid.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved receptacle puncturing and dispensing device rigidly secured to the filling spout of a liquid storage container to thereby provide a firm support for the puncturing member and thus facilitate insertion and removal of the puncturing member from the receptacle.

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disciosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a receptacle in the dispensing position within a container filling spout according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1 but with the receptacle removed.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 but with the receptacle removed.

FIG. 4 is a partial vertical sectional view illustrating a boat employing one form of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view illustrating another way in which the present invention can be employed.

Referring now to the figures and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2 and 3 there is shown a portion of the top wall of a container 10. The top wall of the container it? is provided with a suitable opening 12 having a circumferential downwardly extending cylindrical flange 14. Rigidly secured within the opening 12 and affixed to the flange 14 by suitable means, such as welding, is a spout comprising a support having the form of a cylindrical enclosure member 16. The enclosure member 16 is open at both ends and extends outwardly a short distance above the upper surface of the top wall of the container 1% as can be clearly seen in FIG. 1.

At the free end of the enclosure 16 there is provided an inwardly extending flange 18. The inward end of this flange bends downwardly to form a cylindrical flange Zil concentric with the wall of the enclosure 16.

Spaced inwardly of the short distance from one side of the enclosure 16 is a guide member 22. The guide member 22 is somewhat elongated and positioned on an axis extending between the upper and lower openings of the enclosure 16. The guide member 22 is preferably generally C-shaped in transverse cross section and is positioned parallel to and concentric with the side wall of the enclosure 16. At its upper end the guide member 22 is provided with a radially extending arcuate flange 23.

To support the guide member 22 in spaced relationship with the side walls of the enclosure 16, there is provided a pair of bracket members 24 extending between the upper end thereof and the side wall of the enclosure 16. The guide is supported at its lower end by means of a pair of radially extending brackets 26 which are secured at their outer ends to the wall of the enclosure 16 near its lower end. As can be best seen in PEG. 1, the guide member 22 is positioned in a plane coextensive with the plane of the inwardly extending flange 2t t its lower end, the guide member 22 extends towards the center of the enclosure to to provide a generally horizontally extendint shoulder portion 28. At the inward end of the shoulder portion 28 there is provided a downwardly extending support 1%, the lower end of which is bent upwardly at 32. The shoulder 28 and support 38 are preferably integral with the guide 22.

Rigidly secured at its lower end between the support 3%) and the upwardly extending portion 32 there is a puncturing member 34. The puncturing member 34 has a generally U-shaped transverse cross sectional configuration. The upper half thereof comprises a piercing portion which ends in a point 38. The side edges of the puncturing member 3 are generally arcuate in shape terminating at their upper ends at the point 38 and provided with sharp and cutting edges 4d and 42 as can be clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. When a receptacle such as a metal can 39 is pressed downwardly onto the puncturing member 34 through the upper opening in the enclosure 16, it will be punctured by the point 38 and an opening will be cut by the edges 4-0 and 42.

Extending centrally from the inner surface of the puncturing member 34 at its approximate center is a deflection member 44 which can, if desired, comprise a flap integral with the puncturing member 34 at its upper end. The de fiection member 44 bends outwardly near its center and is suitably secured at its lower end to the puncturing member as best shown in FIG. 1.

When the receptacle 39 is inserted into the enclosure 16, the puncturing member 34 will be forced into the receptacle 39 to form a flap 45 in the lower end of the receptacle 39 with a generally circular edge. As the receptacle is moved downwardly, the flap 45 will be raised or bent upwardly by engagement with the deflection member 44.

As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the puncturing member 34 is securely fastened to the upper end of support 3% by means of three tabs 36 which extend through suitable openings in the puncturing member and are bent downwardly along the inner surface thereof. If desired, the flaps 36 can be integral with support 30 at their upper ends.

As can be best seen in FIG. 1, the upper end of the puncturing member 34- is arcuate in vertical cross section, the end 33 being bent toward the center of the enclosure 16. This provision prevents the point 38 from puncturing the side walls of the can 38 as it is thrust into the enclosure 16. Just above the shoulder 28, the puncturing member 34 can be provided with one or more perforations 37 to facilitate the drainage liquid from within the receptacle 39 through the opening therein formed by the puncturing member 34.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the puncturing member 34 is inclined with respect to the wall of the enclosure 16, the lower end thereof being closer to the center of the enclosure than the upper end thereof. The upper end of the puncturing member 34 is spaced inwardly somewhat from the guide member 22 so that the receptacle 39 is positioned by the guide member 22 as it is thrust into the enclosure 16 with the side wall thereof between the upper end of the puncturing member 34 and the guide 22.

Refer now to FIG. 4, which illustrates another way in which the present invention can be employed. In FIG. 4 there is shown a filling spout comprising an enclosure 16 and a puncturing member which are in all respects similar to those of the spout illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3. The enclosure 16 of FIG. 4 is provided with a movable closure or cover 5t), which fits frictionally in the opening at the upper end thereof. The enclosure 16 is rigidly secured within a suitable opening in the deck 52 of a boat 54. A suitable duct 56 is connected at its upper end to the lower end of the enclosure 16 and at its lower end to a fuel storage tank 58. The spout including enclosure 16 thus communicates through the duct 56 with the fuel tank 58. The fuel tank 5% can be used to supply a mixture of fuel and lubricating oil to an internal combustion engine such as a two cycle outboard motor (not shown) through a suitable fuel supply line 6% connected between the tank 58 and the motor.

When the apparatus of FIG. 4 is to be used, the cover 5%) is removed from the enclosure 16 and a receptacle containing lubricating oil similar to the receptacle 39 is thrust into the enclosure 16. As this is done, the can is punctured and an outlet opening is provided therein by the puncturing member 34 thus allowing the lubricating oil within the can to flow through the duct 56 into the tank 53. After all of the oil has flowed out of the oil receptacle, gasoline can be poured into the upper end of the enclosure 16 until the tank is filled. The fuel and oil mixture is then drawn from the tank 58 through the line 60 during operation of the motor. Mechanical vibration transmitted to the tank 58 will help mix the oil and gasoline within the tank.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a fuel tank 70 having an opening in the upper wall thereof within which is mounted a filling spout in all respects similar to the spout of FIGS. 1 through 3. The tank 70 can be provided with a carrying handle 72. A fuel feed line 74 can be used to convery fuel from the tank '70 to a remote location such as an internal combustion engine (not shown). The filling spout of FIG. 5 can be used both for puncturing draining lubricating oil from a receptacle into the tank 76 and for introducing fuel into the tank 7 0. When the tank is to be used for supplying fuel to an outboard motor, an oil receptacle, similar to the receptacle 39 of FIG. 1, is preferably introduced first into the enclosure 16 and emptied by means of the puncturing member 34. After the oil receptacle has been emptied, fuel can be added to form a fuel and oil mixture 76 within the tank.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described our invention, what we claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. For use with a liquid storage tank, a spout structure for admitting liquid into the tank from a cylindrical container of predetermined diameter and axial length which comprises an upright enclosure connected to the tank and opening downwardly into the tank and upwardly to the atmosphhere, an annular flange on the enclosure forming said upward opening and having an internal diameter only slightly greater than said container predetermined diameter for downward axial insertion of the container through said upward opening, an elongated guide member which is arcuate in transverse cross section mounted within the enclosure between said enclosure openings, said guide member extending longitudinally parallel to the axis of said upward opening with its arcuate wall formed about said axis on a radius substantially equal to the radius of said upward opening whereby said flange and guide member are substantially coaxial, a shoulder on the lower portion of the guide member projecting inwardly toward said axis at a distance from the flange which is less than the predetermined axial length of the container, a container puncturing member mounted in upright position on and within said enclosure and extending upwardly from the shoulder in spaced relation to the gui e member, said puncturing member having a sharply pointed upper end disposed below the annular flange but pointing upwardly toward the upward opening formed thereby whereby as such a container is forcibly inserted axially and downwardly through said upward opening and along the guide member the puncturing member will penetrate into the container until the container engages said shoulder and said annular flange will closely encircle the container as the contents drain therefrom through the enclosure downward opening into the tank.

2. The subject matter of claim 1 wherein said puncturing member has a channel-shaped transverse cross sectional configuration below its pointed upper end tapering upwardly thereto versely centered walls of the channel.

and includes a deflection member transand extending inwardly between the side References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS France May 25, 1923 

1. FOR USE WITH A LIQUID STORAGE TANK, A SPOUT STRUCTURE FOR ADMITTING LIQUID INTO THE TANK FROM A CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER OF PREDETERMINED DIAMETER AND AXIAL LENGTH WHICH COMPRISES AN UPRIGHT ENCLOSURE CONNECTED TO THE TANK AND OPENING DOWNWARDLY INTO THE TANK AND UPWARDLY TO THE ATMOSPHERE, AN ANNULAR FLANGE ON THE ENCLOSURE FORMING SAID UPWARD OPENING AND HAVING AN INTERNAL DIAMETER ONLY SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN SAID CONTAINER PREDETERMINED DIAMETER FOR DOWNWARD AXIAL INSERTION OF THE CONTAINER THROUGH SAID UPWARD OPENING, AN ELONGATED GUIDE MEMBER WHICH IS ARCUATE IN TRANSVERSE CROSS SECTION MOUNTED WITHIN THE ENCLOSURE BETWEEN SAID ENCLOSURE OPENINGS, SAID GUIDE MEMBER EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID UPWARD OPENING WITH ITS ARCUATE WALL FORMED ABOUT SAID AXIS ON A RADIUS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE RADIUS OF SAID UPWARD OPENING WHEREBY SAID FLANGE AND GUIDE MEMBER ARE SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIAL, A SHOULDER ON THE LOWER POR- 